Process for Preparing Catalyst Supports Having Reduced Levels of Contaminants

ABSTRACT

A method of preparing a catalyst support is described comprising washing a precipitated metal oxide material with water and/or an aqueous solution of acid and/or base such that contaminant levels in said precipitated metal oxide are reduced. The method may be applied to precipitated alumina materials to reduce contaminants selected from sulphur, chlorine, Group 1 A and Group 2A metals. The catalyst supports may be used to prepare catalysts for the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis of hydrocarbons.

This invention relates to a method for the preparation of catalystsupports and in particular precipitated metal oxide supports containingreduced levels of contaminants.

Precipitated oxide materials such as aluminas, silicas, titanias andzirconias are used as catalyst supports in a wide range of industrialprocesses.

Precipitated metal oxides may be prepared by adding a base, often aGroup 1A or Group 2A metal hydroxide, to a metal salt solution such asan aluminium, titanium or zirconium sulphate, chloride or nitratesolution. Alternatively, aluminas may be made by acidification of sodiumaluminate. Precipitated silicas are typically prepared by adding anacid, e.g. sulphuric or hydrochloric acid, to sodium or potassiumsilicate solutions. The oxidic materials are subsequently separated,washed with water, dried and calcined. However, contaminants such assulphur (e.g. from sulphate/sulphuric acid), chlorine (e.g. fromchloride salts), and Group 1A and 2A metals (e.g. from the base) may bepresent in undesirably high amounts.

In industrial catalytic processes, there can be an undesirableinteraction between contaminants in the support and catalyst so that itmay be necessary to carefully select the support to avoid side reactionsand provide satisfactory activity. Accordingly for some processes it maybe necessary to avoid precipitated catalyst supports altogether. Forexample in the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis of hydrocarbons, high puritysupports for cobalt catalysts are commonly used in order to achievesatisfactory catalyst activity and selectivity to C5+ hydrocarbons. Inparticular, so-called ‘Ziegler’ alumina materials have been foundeffective. Ziegler aluminas are prepared by the hydrolysis of aluminiumalkoxides and therefore are more expensive to manufacture on anindustrial scale compared to precipitated aluminas. Furthermore,precipitated supports may offer desirable physical properties such ashigh surface area, high pore volume and high attrition resistance.

We have found surprisingly that conventional precipitated oxidicsupports may be washed with water and/or acid and/or base solutions toadvantageously reduce contaminants such as sulphur, chlorine and/orGroup 1A and Group 2A metals to provide purified supports that may beused to prepare catalysts with acceptable properties.

Accordingly the invention provides a method of preparing a catalystsupport comprising washing a precipitated metal oxide material withwater and/or an aqueous solution of acid and/or base such thatcontaminant levels in said precipitated metal oxide are reduced.

By “washing” we mean contacting a preferably dried and optionallycalcined precipitated metal oxide with water or an aqueous solutionunder conditions sufficient to extract contaminants from the oxide.Typically the extraction of the contaminants will be followed by aseparation stage whereby the water or aqueous solution containing thecontaminants is separated from the oxide.

Contaminants in precipitated metal oxides particularly include sulphur,chlorine, Group 1A and Group 2A metals and transition metals. Inprecipitated materials sulphur is typically present as sulphate anion(SO₄ ²⁻) and chlorine is typically present as the chloride anion (Cl⁻).The Group 1A and 2A metals include Na⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺ cations. Thepresent invention provides precipitated oxidic catalyst supports inwhich contaminants, particularly sulphur and Group 1A and Group 2Ametals, may be reduced by >10%, preferably >25%, more preferably >50%compared to the unwashed material. For example, in commercialprecipitated aluminas, such as a delta alumina prepared from aluminiumsulphate solution, the sulphur content may be >450 ppm and the Group 1Aor 2A metals typically >100 ppm. The washed alumina material accordingto the present invention has been found to contain sulphur below 150 ppmand Group 1A and 2A metals below 80 ppm.

The levels of other contaminants may also be reduced by the presentinvention. For example acid and/or base washing has been found to reducethe levels of iron (Fe), silicon (Si), titanium (Ti), zinc (Zn) andzirconium (Zr) in alumina materials.

The oxidic material may be any precipitated oxidic catalyst supportincluding mixed metal oxides. Preferably the oxidic support is selectedfrom alumina, titania and zirconia supports. Silicas are also includedin the present invention. The alumina, titania and zirconia oxidicsupports may be in partially hydrated or fully hydrated form. Preferablythe oxidic supports have been subjected to a drying and/or calcinationstep. By “drying” we mean that the oxidic support has been heated tosubstantially remove liquids, such as water or acetone. Dryingtemperatures are typically ≦150° C. By “calcination step” we mean theoxide or its precursor have been heated at elevated temperature toeffect a physiochemical change. Calcination temperatures may be,depending upon the oxide and the extent of change required, typically inthe range 250-800° C. The support may comprise one or more of alumina,silica, titania and zirconia, for example the support may be analuminosilicate, a titania-coated silica or alumina, or azirconia-coated silica or alumina. Preferably the oxidic support is analumina, more preferably, the support is a transition alumina, such as agamma, delta or theta alumina or alpha alumina. Gamma and delta aluminasand mixtures thereof are especially preferred.

We have found that water washing of dried and/or calcined precipitatedoxidic materials is able to lower the level of Group 1A contaminantssuch as Na or K to acceptable levels. In particular we have found thatwater washing of transition aluminas, especially gamma or deltaaluminas, reduces the Na levels. It will be understood that the watershould itself not contain substantial amounts of contaminants andpreferably the water is demineralised and/or de-ionised water. However,we have found that water washing does not significantly reduce the levelof other contaminants that may be present in the precipitated oxidicmaterials. We have found that acid and/or base washing of the oxidicmaterials is able to reduce the levels of a broader range ofcontaminants.

Treatment of gamma-alumina Fischer-Tropsch catalyst supports with acidsor bases to alter their chemical properties is known. In AppliedCatalysis A: 201 (2000) 129-138, a gamma alumina was treated with acidor base solutions by incipient wetness. It was found that increasing thepH was detrimental to catalyst attrition. In Applied Catalysis A 243(2003) 121-133 a gamma alumina was treated at 270° C. in an autoclavewith solutions of acetic acid, ammonia or ammonium nitrate and dried.The acetic acid treatment was found to be detrimental to thereducibility and hence activity of the catalyst. In neither case was thealumina washed to reduce the amount of contaminants.

The acids may be any suitable aqueous acid including hydrochloric,nitric or sulphuric acids. Organic acids such as formic acid or aceticacid may be used. Nitric acid or hydrochloric acids are preferred.Nitric acid is most preferred, because upon calcination of the support,no residues of the acid should remain. The concentration of acid ispreferably such that contaminants may be effectively removed withoutsubstantial dissolution of the metal oxide support. Preferably theconcentration of acid is ≦10 molar, more preferably ≦6 molar. Similarlythe base may be any suitable aqueous base including aqueous ammonia,sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide. Organic bases may also beused. Aqueous ammonia is preferred as it removes contaminants withoutincreasing the Group 1A or Group 2A metal contamination and is readilyremoved during subsequent drying and any calcination step. Theconcentration of base is preferably such that contaminants may beeffectively removed without substantial dissolution of the metal oxidesupport. Preferably the concentration of base is ≦10 molar, morepreferably ≦6 molar. Preferably demineralised and/or deionised water isused to prepare the acid and base solutions.

The oxidic supports may be washed at ambient or elevated temperaturesappropriate to the acid or base solution concerned. Preferably thesupports are washed at ambient temperatures (e.g. 10 to 30° C.) althoughtemperatures up to 90° C. are suitable. If desired, washing may beperformed in an autoclave at elevated pressures that allow the washingtemperature to be increased e.g. to 150° C. The washing time may bevaried from seconds to hours according to the contaminant level, theacid or base concentration and the washing temperature to ensuresatisfactory contaminant removal without substantial dissolution of theoxidic support. For example ambient temperature washing of an aluminasupport with acid or base may be in the range 1 minute to 24 hours,preferably ≦12 hours, more preferably ≦4 hours.

Washing may be carried out batch-wise or continuously, depending on theavailability of process equipment and/or scale of operation.

We have found that water washing is particularly effective for removingNa ions, acid washing is particularly effective for removing Group 1Aand 2A metal contaminants, whereas base washing is particularlyeffective for removing sulphur contaminants. Hence in one embodiment ofthe present invention, the oxidic support is washed with just water. Inanother embodiment of the present invention, the oxidic support iswashed with just an acid solution. In another embodiment the oxidicsupport is washed with a base solution. In a preferred embodiment, theoxidic support is washed with an acid solution and a base solution. Inthis embodiment, the acid wash may precede or be subsequent to the basewash.

If desired, more than one acid and/or base wash may be performed usingthe same or different acids and/or bases.

Intermediate water washing steps may also be performed between any acidand/or base washing steps.

By the term acid wash we mean that the aqueous solution used to wash thesupport has a pH <7, preferably ≦5. By the term base wash we mean thatthe aqueous solution used to wash the support has a pH >7, preferably≧9.

The support may be washed with water prior to and/or subsequent towashing with aqueous acid and or base solution. Preferably, the supportsare washed with water subsequent to acid and/or base washing. Such waterwashing substantially removes traces of the acid or base from thesupport in direct contrast to the treatment methods in the aforesaidApplied Catalysis papers. However, we have found that water washingalone is not effective in reducing all contaminants. Without wishing tobe bound by theory it is possible that the acid and base washing stepsresult in some ion-exchange in the matrix of the support that allowsenhanced displacement of the contaminants from the support, especiallyif followed by water washing.

The washed oxidic supports are preferably dried before use. Drying maybe performed using any suitable method such as oven drying, fluid-beddrying, rotary drying, spray drying and so-called flash drying. Ifdesired, the oxides may be dried between washing steps. Drying ispreferably carried out by heating the washed supports to between 20 and150° C., more preferably between 60 and 120° C. for up to 24 hours. Ifdesired, the washed supports may also be subjected to calcination attemperatures >200° C., preferably >400° C. for up to 24 hours to alterthe physiochemical properties of the support.

Drying and/or calcining may be carried out batch-wise or continuously,depending on the availability of process equipment and/or scale ofoperation.

Surprisingly, we have found that the washing process of the presentinvention while reducing contaminants may not substantially alterdesirable physical characteristics of the catalyst support such as BETsurface area, pore volume and pore diameter.

The washed catalyst supports prepared according to the present inventionmay be used to prepare a wide range of catalysts.

Thus the invention further provides a process for the preparation of acatalyst comprising the steps of

-   -   (i) washing a precipitated metal oxide material with water        and/or an aqueous solution of acid and/or base such that        contaminant levels in said precipitated metal oxide are reduced,    -   (ii) drying and optionally calcining the washed support, and    -   (iii) contacting the support with a catalyst compound.

The catalysts may be prepared according to methods known in thoseskilled in the art, for example by impregnation or precipitationtechniques from solution whereby a catalytically active metal compounde.g. a compound of Co, Cu, Ni, Fe, Cr, Mo, Ti, Mn, Zn, Pt, Pd, Ru or Reis deposited on or within the support. The catalyst may then be furtherprocessed to produce the finished catalyst material. For example theimpregnated or precipitated mixture may be dried and/or calcined and ifdesired formed into shaped units by extrusion, tabletting orgranulation. Alternatively the washed supports may be used within awashcoat applied to a ceramic or metal monolith or foam. Alternatively,the support may be mixed with a solid catalyst material such as azeolite and the resulting mixture formed into shaped catalyst units byextrusion, granulation or tabletting. The washed supports may also beused to ‘heterogenize’ homogeneous catalysts, for example in organicsynthesis such as asymmetric hydrogenation reactions.

The catalysts prepared by the process may find use in a wide range ofindustrial applications such as hydrocarbon purification,hydrodesulphurisation, reforming, water-gas shift reactions, methanoland ammonia synthesis, hydrogenation of oils and fats, polymerization ofolefins and the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis of hydrocarbons. Furthermorethe catalysts may find use in selective oxidation reactions such asethylene oxide manufacture and in automotive exhaust catalysts. In apreferred use, the catalysts are cobalt-containing catalysts, includingpromoted cobalt catalysts, for the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis ofhydrocarbons. In particular, the supports may be used to prepare cobaltcatalysts by deposition-precipitation techniques using solutions ofcobalt amine carbonate such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,874,381,U.S. Pat. No. 6,534,436, U.S. Pat. No. 6,927,190 and US 2005-0272827.

The invention is further illustrated by the following examples.

BET surface areas and pore volumes were measured using well-knownnitrogen physisorption techniques and alumina phases were determinedusing X-ray diffraction. The contaminant levels are quoted in parts permillion weight (ppm) and were measured using inductively-coupledplasma-atomic emission spectroscopy or mass spectroscopy. Chlorineanalysis was carried out by microcoulimetry. Attrition resistances onbase-washed aluminas were determined by an air-jet method and are quotedas attrition loss % (see ASTM D5757).

EXAMPLE 1 Acid Washing

Nitric acid (HNO₃) solutions were made up in 1000 ml volumetric flasks;the molarities of solutions were 0.5M, 2M, 4M and 6M. 200 g of acommercially available sulphate-derived Puralox KR160 precipitatedalumina was weighed into a 2-litre glass beaker and the acid solutionwas added and stirred for 1 hour on the magnetic stirrer at roomtemperature. The slurry was then filtered and washed with demineralisedwater in a Buchner funnel. Hot demineralised water was used for the 2M,4M and 6M solutions. We have found that subsequent washing with hotwater (water temperature >30° C.) improves the filterability ofacid-washed alumina supports. This washing was repeated until theconductivity of the filtrate was in the region of 300 μS/cm. Thefiltered samples were placed on glass trays (31 cm×24.5 cm), spreadthinly and then placed in metal trays and covered with meshes. Thesamples were dried over night (ca 16 hours) in a fan oven at 110° C.then the temperature was ramped at 2° C. per minute to 450° C. where itwas held for 16 hours to calcine the samples. The results for thedifferent washed aluminas and the unwashed parent alumina are asfollows;

TABLE 1a Contaminant levels (ppm) Wash S Fe Ca Na Si Ti Zn Ga La Mg ZrNone 480 150 490 150 180 36 17 69 52 109 4 0.5M   512 151 19 23 42 26 12— — 76 <10 2M 466 116 76 <50 120 9 4 62 24 66 1 4M 465 118 68 <50 118 103 60 23 70 1 6M 465 115 70 <50 124 10 4 62 21 78 1

TABLE 1b Physical properties BET SA Pore vol APD Wash (m²g⁻¹) (cm³g⁻¹)(Angstrom) none 161.7 0.79 202 0.5M   163.7 0.80 203 2M 169.6 0.87 2084M 171.9 0.87 204 6M 165.1 0.86 211

Acid washing the alumina removes the calcium and sodium from the aluminaas well as some iron, silicon, titanium, lanthanum and magnesium. Theacid treatment of the alumina did not significantly alter the BETsurface area, pore volume or average pore diameter (APD) of the alumina.The alumina phases were confirmed by X-ray diffraction to be delta ineach case.

EXAMPLE 2 Base Washing

300 g of Puralox KR160 alumina were weighed out into a 2-litre conicalflask. Then a pre-determined amount of ammonium hydroxide was weighedout into a 1 litre volumetric flask and made up to the litre. 2M and 6Msolutions were prepared. The conical flask containing the alumina wasplaced on the stirring mantle at room temperature and the 1-litresolution added. This was taken as time zero. After 30 minutes a sampleof the slurry was taken using a 10 ml syringe 3 times. This was filteredthrough the small Buchner funnel. The filtrate was kept and the filtercake was washed with 400 ml of demineralised water. Samples were alsotaken at 1, 2, 4, 8 and 24 hours. After 24 hours the remaining slurrywas filtered through a large Buchner funnel. The recovered filter cakewas washed with 3 litres of demineralised water. All the samples werethen placed in a fan oven and heated from room temperature at 2° C. perminute to 110° C. and held for 16 hours to dry the samples. Thetemperature was then increased at 2° C. a minute to 550° C. and held fora further 16 hours to calcine the samples.

A sample of the alumina was also washed with 0.5M or 2M ammoniumhydroxide for 1 hour at room temperature, dried and calcined at 450° C.The results for the different washed aluminas and the unwashed parentalumina are as follows;

TABLE 2a Contaminant levels (ppm) Wash S Fe Ca Na Si Ti Zn Ga La Mg Zrnone 480 150 490 150 180 36 17 69 52 109 4 0.5M (1 hr) 141 144 448 11632 25 10 — — 137 <10 2M (1 hr) 111 120 437 86 109 22 10 — — — 7 2M (24hrs) 144 144 457 56 92 27 6 64 46 101 <1 6M (24 hrs) 147 142 465 61 9227 10 63 45 100 <1

TABLE 2b Physical Properties BET SA Pore volume APD Attrition Wash(m²g⁻¹) (cm³g⁻¹) (Angstrom) Loss % none 161.7 0.79 202 38 0.5M (1 hr)175.9 0.78 184 — 2M (1 hr) 181.0 0.82 184 — 2M (24 hrs) 171.4 0.78 18234 6M (24 hrs) 172.7 0.77 181 —

Base washing removes sulphur and sodium as well as some silicon andtitanium. The base washing did not significantly alter the BET surfacearea, pore volume or average pore diameter (APD) of the alumina.Attrition resistance has not been reduced. The alumina phases wereconfirmed by X-ray diffraction to be delta in each case.

Thus washing a precipitated alumina with acid, base and water can removespecific impurities. Washing with an acid removes the calcium and sodiumas well as some silica, titanium, lanthanum and magnesium. Washing withbase removes the sulphur and sodium as well as some silica and titanium.The attrition resistance appears not to have been deteriorated by basewashing. This is particularly desirable in fluidised bed or slurry phasecatalysts, e.g. Fischer-Tropsch catalysts for use in slurry bubblecolumn reactors. These results are surprising as they contradict theteaching of Applied Catalysis A: 201 (2000) 129-138, where it was foundthat increasing the pH of a gamma alumina surface by incipient wetnesstreatment was detrimental to catalyst attrition.

EXAMPLE 3 Sequential Acid and Base Washing

Samples of Puralox KR160 were subjected to acid washing or base washingaccording to the methods of Examples 1 and 2 using 2M solutions of acid(HNO₃, 1 hr) or base (NH₄OH, 24 hrs), but without the calcination step.In each case, the dried material was rewashed with 2M solutions of baseor acid, again according to the method of Examples 1 and 2. Theacid-base (A+B) or base-acid (B+A) washed materials were then dried at120° C. and calcined at 450° C. The results are as follows;

TABLE 3a Contaminant levels (ppm) Wash S Fe Ca Na Si Ti Zn Mg Zr none480 150 490 150 180 36 17 109 4 B + A 113 138 20 43 71 20 <10 49 17 A +B 133 113 20 <10 85 10 <10 73 <10

TABLE 3b Physical Properties BET SA Pore volume APD Wash (m²g⁻¹)(cm³g⁻¹) (Angstrom) none 161.7 0.79 202 B + A 188.5 0.87 186 A + B 175.90.86 197

These results show that the sequential acid and base washes areeffective in removing S and Na, Ca, Mg as well as Si. Furthermore, thesequential washing has not substantially altered the textural andphysical properties of the alumina.

EXAMPLE 4 Catalyst Preparation

Cobalt catalysts containing about 40% wt cobalt were prepared using

-   -   a) The 6M acid-washed calcined alumina from Example 1,    -   b) the 2M ammonium hydroxide washed calcined alumina from        Example 2 and    -   c) the 2M ammonium hydroxide/2M nitric acid (B+A) washed        calcined alumina from Example 3

A cobalt hexammine carbonate solution was first prepared by dissolving198 g of ammonium carbonate chips in a solution comprising 1880 ml ofdemineralised water and 1920 ml 30% aqueous ammonia. Once the chips haddissolved, 218 g of cobalt carbonate was added and left to stirovernight. The solution was then filtered and allowed to age for 2 daysprior to use. The alumina was then treated with the aged cobalthexammine carbonate solution. 43.5 g of the alumina was added to 2litres of cobalt hexamine carbonate solution and stirred and heated toboiling. The pH of the mixture was monitored. When the pH of thesolution had dropped to 7.5 to 7.7 the stirring was stopped and themixture cooled. The mixture was then filtered using a Buchner funnel andthe filter cake washed with 2 litres of demineralised water. Theresultant powder was then dried in an oven overnight at 110° C. Oncedry, the powder was sieved through a 1 mm sieve.

For comparison, an unwashed Puralox KR160 alumina was used to prepare a40% wt cobalt catalyst according to the above method.

The BET surface areas, pore volume and average pore diameter for thesupported catalysts in the unreduced state were determined. The cobaltsurface areas of the catalysts reduced at 425° C. under hydrogen asmeasured by hydrogen chemisorption at 150° C., according to the methoddescribed in the aforesaid U.S. Pat. No. 6,927,190, were alsodetermined. The catalyst characteristics were as follows;

BET surface Pore Average Co surface area volume pore area Catalyst(m²g⁻¹) (cm³g⁻¹) diameter ({acute over (Å)}) (m²g⁻¹cat) Unwashed support152.4 0.18 50 30.6 4a (Acid washed) 189.0 0.21 46 34.5 4b (Base washed)181.4 0.20 46 32.7 4c (Base + 187.6 0.19 42 32.5 Acid washed)

EXAMPLE 5 Catalyst Testing

The cobalt catalysts of Example 4 were used for the Fischer-Tropschsynthesis of hydrocarbons in a laboratory-scale reactor. About 0.1 g ofunreduced catalyst in a diluted bed (ca. 4 mm ID by 50 mm depth) wasfirst reduced at 430° C. for 420 min or 540 min in a hydrogen flow of 30ml/minute. Then hydrogen and carbon monoxide at a 2:1 ratio were passedthrough the bed at 210° C./20 barg. The space velocity was adjustedafter 30 hrs to obtain as close as possible 50% CO conversion. Theactivity and selectivity of the catalyst to CH₄, C2-C4 and C5+hydrocarbons were measured using known Gas Chromatography (GC)techniques.

For comparison, the unwashed Puralox KR160 alumina cobalt catalyst wastested in an identical manner to the catalysts prepared using the washedsupports of Examples 1 and 2 (Comp. 1). Also for comparison a highpurity alumina (HP14/150 from Sasol) was use to prepare a 40% wt cobaltcatalyst according to the method of Example 4 and tested in an identicalmanner to the catalyst prepared using the washed support of Example 3(Comp. 2). The results were as follows;

Weight Reduction Reduction Reduction Catalyst Temp H₂ Flow Hold timeExample (g) (° C.) (ml/min) (min) Comp. 1 0.100 430 30 420 4a 0.100 43030 420 4b 0.102 430 30 420 4c 0.100 430 30 540 Comp. 2 0.099 430 30 540Reaction Reaction Syngas Temp. Pressure Flowrate Relative CO₂ CH₄ C2-C4C5+ C5=/C5 Example (° C.) (barg) (ml/min) Activity (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)Comp. 1 210 20 11 1.00 0.70 12.15 3.93 83.9 0.37 4a 210 20 11 1.52 0.659.93 6.75 82.7 0.27 4b 210 20 11 1.71 0.95 14.54 8.12 76.4 0.16 4c 21020 15 1.57 0.65 19.42 12.93 67.0 0.39 Comp. 2 210 20 15 1.67 1.04 9.586.64 82.7 0.14

The catalysts were active and produced C5+ hydrocarbons. The activity ofthe reduced catalysts is given relative to the reduced unwashed-supportcatalyst. The relative activity to the unwashed Puralox KR160 catalystis a useful measurement for comparing the catalysts prepared using thewashed supports of the present invention. It can be seen that all thewashed-support catalysts were more active than the unwashed-supportcatalyst, and that the activity of the base washed-support catalystmatched that of the high purity alumina-support catalyst. Furthermorethe C5+ selectivity of the acid-washed-support catalyst was alsocomparable to that of the high purity alumina-support catalyst. Inparticular, the effectiveness of the acid-washed catalyst is surprisingin view of Applied Catalysis A 243 (2003) 121-133 in which acetic acidtreatment of a gamma alumina at 270° C. in an autoclave was found to bedetrimental to the reducibility and hence activity of the catalyst.

EXAMPLE 6

A chloride-derived precipitated alumina was subjected to base+acid (B+A)washing using 2M NH₄OH and 2M HNO₃ according to the method of Example 3,except that the base washing was continued only for 1 hr rather than 24hrs. The results are as follows;

TABLE 6a Contaminant levels (ppm) Wash S Fe Ca Na Si Ti Zn Mg Zr Cl none104 66 148 165 407 584 110 54 22 526 B + A 23 54 58 41 365 520 135 43 6313

TABLE 6b Physical Properties BET SA Pore volume APD Wash (m²g⁻¹)(cm³g⁻¹) (Angstrom) none 175.2 0.51 117 B + A 183.4 0.54 117

It can be seen that the base+acid washing has markedly reduced the S,Cl, Ca and Na levels without deteriorating the physical properties ofthe alumina.

EXAMPLE 7 Continuous Washing

300 g of Puralox KR160 alumina was weighed out then placed into aBunchner funnel. 1 L of 2M NH₄OH solution was added to the alumina untilit was about 1 cm above the alumina level. The vacuum was then turnedon. The NH₄OH was continuously poured onto the alumina to maintain aconstant 1 cm level above the alumina. After all the solution had beenadded and filtered through the alumina the filter cake was washed with 3L of demineralised water. The filter cake was then dried in an oven witha 2° C. ramp to 120° C. and held for 16 hours and then the temperaturewas ramped 2° C. per minute to 450° C. were it was calcined for 16hours.

The experiment was repeated using 2M HNO₃. The results were as follows;

TABLE 7a Contaminant levels (ppm) Wash S Fe Ca Na Si Ti Zn Mg Zr none480 150 490 150 180 36 17 109 4 2M Acid 485 130 37 9 47 10 6 68 <1 2MBase 149 151 354 31 48 21 12 96 <1

TABLE 7b Physical Properties BET SA Pore volume APD Wash (m²g⁻¹)(cm³g⁻¹) (Angstrom) none 161.7 0.79 202 2M Acid 158.0 0.80 211 2M Base161.0 0.78 200

It can be seen that the continuous acid washing is effective in reducingthe Ca, Na, Si and Mg levels; and continuous base washing the S levelswithout deteriorating the physical properties of the alumina.

EXAMPLE 8 Water Washing

A 200 g sample of Puralox KR160 alumina was subjected to water washingusing demineralised water at room temperature for 24 hrs at boilingwater for 1 hour. The water-washed alumina was dried and calcinedaccording to the method of example 1. The results were as follows;

TABLE 8a Contaminant levels (ppm) Wash S Fe Ca Na Si Ti Zn Mg Zr none480 150 490 150 180 36 17 109 4 Boiling (1 hr) 388 155 414 17 102 26 1299 <10 Room Temp. (24 hrs) 393 155 430 15 100 27 4 110 <1

TABLE 8b Physical Properties BET SA Pore volume APD Wash (m²g⁻¹)(cm³g⁻¹) (Angstrom) none 161.7 0.79 202 Boiling (1 hr) 149.7 0.69 184Water (24 hrs, rt) 169.4 0.78 187

It can be seen that water washing alone does not significantly effectthe S, Fe, Mg or Ca content of the aluminas, although the Na level isreduced.

EXAMPLE 9 Silica Washing

A sodium aluminate-derived precipitated silica (ES70X from INEOS) wassubjected to base+acid washing using 2M NH₄OH and 2M HNO₃ according tothe method of Example 3, except that the base washing was continued onlyfor 1 hr rather than 24 hrs. The results are as follows;

TABLE 9a Contaminant levels (ppm) Wash S Fe Ca Na Al Ti Zn Mg Zr none124 96 717 322 172 173 3 46 17 B + A <10 37 291 105 135 156 3 22 22

It can be seen that the base+acid washing has markedly reduced the S,Fe, Ca, Na and Mg levels.

1. A method of preparing a catalyst support comprising washing aprecipitated metal oxide material with water and/or an aqueous solutionof acid and/or base such that contaminant levels in said precipitatedmetal oxide are reduced.
 2. A method according to claim 1 wherein thewashing step is performed with water.
 3. A method according to claim 1wherein the washing step is performed with an aqueous solution of acidand/or base.
 4. A method according to claim 1 wherein the metal oxidematerial is an alumina, silica, titania or zirconia support.
 5. A methodaccording to claim 1 wherein the metal oxide material is a transitionalumina, preferably a gamma, delta or theta alumina, or alpha alumina.6. A method according to claim 3 wherein the metal oxide material isacid washed with nitric or hydrochloric acid.
 7. A method according toclaim 3 wherein the metal oxide material is base washed with aqueousammonia.
 8. A method according to claim 3 wherein the metal oxidematerial is washed with nitric acid and washed with aqueous ammonia. 9.A method according to claim 3 wherein water washes are performed aftereach acid and/or base washing step.
 10. A method according to claim 1wherein the washed supports are calcined at >200° C. for up to 24 hours.11. A process for the preparation of a catalyst comprising the steps of;(i) washing a precipitated metal oxide material according to the methodof claim 1, (ii) drying and optionally calcining the washed support, and(iii) contacting the support with a catalyst compound.
 12. A processaccording to claim 11 wherein the catalyst compound is a compound of Co,Cu, Ni, Fe, Cr, Mo, Ti, Mn, Zn, R, Pd, Ru or Re.
 13. A process accordingto claim 11 wherein the catalyst compound is a zeolite.
 14. A processaccording to claim 11 wherein the catalyst is a catalyst for theFischer-Tropsch synthesis of hydrocarbons and the catalyst compound is acobalt compound.